In this episode we chat with the Struck CEO & Co-Founder, Rachel Lo! She shares her journey coming from a secular, technical background to developing an astrology-based dating app. Even if you're an astrology skeptic (like James), there still definitely something to be gained from this discussion.
Rachel's message to skeptics: "Consider why astrology makes you so uncomfortable? Is it really harming you/other people, or is it just that you’re unfamiliar with it? Also: try reading your birth chart and see how it resonates with you!"
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Rachel grew up in the South Bay of LA and went to UC Berkeley for engineering. - Worked at Apple and other tech companies for a few years
- Didn't believe in astrology at first, but the inequities in the workforce made Rachel consider that the world isn't concrete and filled with more nuance.
- Met her co-founder after renting a house in SF with others working at Apple.
- Struck designed to make experiences more meaningful and fun, it's based off astrological compatibility.
- Dating apps have a similar playbook for launching apps, but the pandemic disrupted that.
- Struck was in the Top 10 lifestyle apps in the Apple App Store.
- James initially hesitant to have Rachel on as a guest due to his skepticism of astrology. - Parents immigrated from Hong Kong and met in NY
- Struck is rooted in Western astrology (Hellenistic/Greek).
- Parents were supportive of Rachel starting Struck.
- Rachel breaks down James's and Dan's astrological chart
- Had issues with the Apple App Store due to their restrictions on astrology apps.
- Dating apps were engineered for people to continue to date, i.e. endless swiping. Struck aims to change that.
LINKS:
Struck: https://www.struckapp.com/
Struck IG: https://www.instagram.com/struck.app/
Struck TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@struckapp
LANGUAGE CORNER:
Mandarin:
- 相親 - xiāngqīn - blind date
- 紅娘 hóngniáng (lít. red woman) / 媒人 méiren - matchmaker
Cantonese: - 飲茶 - yám chà - Yum Cha, lit. drink tea, traditional Cantonese brunch with tea and dim sum.
Japanese:
- イケ面 - ikemen - good-looking guy
- ギャル - gyaru - slang word for "gal", a Japanese subculture for woman who are tanned, have dyed hair, colored contacts, and other fashion trends.
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Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin.
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